Punch Drunk Kiss

3

Cold air immediately hit Tabitha as he regained awareness. He rubbed his eyes, finding himself on the floor of the Deep Sea. His colleagues were all dazed on the ground, so Tabitha took it upon himself to explore by himself, allowing his colleagues to regain their own awareness.

This was eerie. Mt Pyre would seem like a playground compared to this hellscape.

Suddenly a whoosh of air brought Tabitha's attention to the closing portal.

He broke into a sprint. Sun had been right. Blaise was trying to get rid of his militia, but for what? Panicked thoughts raced through Tabitha's mind as he leapt through the closing ring of air, unable to save his friends from the rapid decrease in portal area.

-

"You too, huh?"

Tabitha startled awake. A voice. Something was ringing in his ears.

"Mother tried the same trick."

He whirled around, locking eyes with the presumed dead Aetherian prince. Tabitha's jaw dropped. "You're-"

"Hah - dead, right? This isn't real... what is it, Burns?"

Tabitha shook his head. "No. This... am I dead?"

"Oh no. I was called to assist you in your awakening." Gladion smiled pleasantly.

The head soldier dropped to his knees, beginning to shake. "This is a fabrication, Burns." Gladion stepped forward. "Wake up."

He knelt, grabbing Tabitha's shoulders. "Tabitha."

A rough shake; "Tabitha!"

Tabitha screamed and jolted awake.

Ignoring the rush of nurses that came into his room, Tabitha buried his head in his hands, and grit his teeth especially hard against the tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

"Are you OK, Mr. Burns?" a nurse asked at his side.

"No!" Tabitha snapped, ripping the IVs from his arms. He practically fell out of bed, feeling weak but quickly regaining his strength as he ran. Tabitha's lungs burned as he desperately went looking for the only person who would understand what just happened. "Harlan!" he shouted.

Finally finding her on a balcony, Tabitha leapt onto her, holding her close. Harlan urged him to be gentle, and he realized, backing off. "You look terrible - what happened?" Harlan asked, her voice edging on panic.

"I..." Tabitha looked at her, his purple eyes wild.

"Tabby, take it easy!" Harlan protested as he hugged her again, this time being mindful. "Did... did something bad happen?"

"I was the only one who got out." Tabitha's voice was hoarse.

"What???"

"Your husband... something with the portal..."

Harlan started to understand. "Oh my Arceus."

Tabitha nodded. "They're all dead. Blaise did something to the portal, and... it knocked us out upon arrival ... he... he tried to close it and I got out .. just in time - I -" Suddenly starting to panic, Tabby let go of Harlan and slithered to his knees. Harlan knelt to his eye level.

"Bee... you're bleeding." The new nickname made Tabitha look up at her. She was tending to his wounds from the torn needles, wiping the blood away with her shirt. "Hang on. Lay down," she told him. Tabitha got to his feet, shaking violently as he lay on the bench on the balcony. Harlan rushed away to find something.

Thankfully, she came back quickly, with some medical tape and gauze. Harlan knelt to his side, taking his arms one at a time and wrapping his biceps and forearms. "Bee," she started.

"Y...yeah?"

"You're not tellin' me something," she said.

"I... I can't... Fuck. I can't say. Leave me be," Tabitha snapped suddenly, rolling over on his side.

"..." Harlan stared at him, having recoiled a bit, but she grabbed his hospital gown by the collar and attempted to lift him. Tabitha sat up. "Fuck you," she said simply.

"Harl... I'm sorry. I'm..." Tabitha shook his head.

"You're what?" she asked gently, urging him to face her. He obeyed and she took his hands. "Tell me."

"I'm scared." Tabitha felt ridiculous.

"... I'm not going to let Blaise hurt you." Harlan leaned forward and kissed him on the bridge of his nose. Tabitha bit his lip, then also leaned forward. "Tabby?" she asked quietly.

Wordlessly, Tabitha kissed her. Her taste sizzled on his lips, an energetic, sweet taste, that of a fruit flavored caffeinated beverage, almost. Her tongue entered his mouth, and he continued to kiss her; her moans echoed in his mind as she emitted noises into his mouth. Then she pulled away. Tabitha opened his eyes.

"Bee."

"Oh, my Arceus. I'm so sorry, Harlan - Fuck me, why did I do that...?" Tabitha cursed under his breath.

To his surprise, Harlan cuddled to his chest. Now on the floor, Tabitha leaned against the railing of the balcony, holding her close.

"Don't apologize," she said.

This was so wrong. Tabitha kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry."

Harlan scoffed, but closed her eyes and curled up in his lap. Tabitha awkwardly put his hands on her. Blaise was absolutely going to kill him. His hands found her belly. The duo looked at each other, but no words were said. However, the message was clearly communicated.

That was no longer an Aether heir.

-

Regretfully, Harlan left the room as she was called by Blaise. She'd instructed Tabitha to hide in that room, to make Blaise think that his ex best friend was dead, too.

"Yes, Blai?" Harlan asked as she found him.

"The portal has closed." Blaise's hair flowed around his face in the wind. They were at the docks, and extra wind from the portal was still present. "Our militia is done."

"..." Harlan had nothing to say to him.

Blaise crossed his arms. "They will be missed." He looked to her. "How is our son?" His expression was tender, and suddenly, Harlan was in love with him all over again. He reached out to her, his hands cupping her belly. "I can't wait to see him."

"He's doing well." Harlan still couldn't bring herself to say much to him.

"I love you, Harl." Blaise kissed her on the forehead. "Back to work for me." With that, Blaise got into one of the boats. He waved to her as the boat departed; Harlan waved back. As soon as he was out of range, she rushed back to the room housing Tabitha.

The purple haired man was curled up on the ground, asleep. He looked troubled. Harlan knelt to him. Admittedly, the urge to give Blaise a big fuck you and run away with Tabitha was there.

Harlan pushed his bangs out of his eyes, which fluttered open. He smiled grimly, but pushed himself up off the floor and sat on his knees. She climbed into his lap again; she felt him kiss her head again. She could have sworn she heard "I love you" come out of his mouth, ever so silently, but perhaps her ears were playing tricks on her.